Crate.



W. F. BUSCHARDT.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1911.

1,014,445, Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

' consists of the construction, combination and WILLIAM F. nuscn'annr, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

' CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lPatented Jan. 9,1912.

Application filed May 4, 1911. Serial No. 624,965.

To all whom it may concern 'Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. BU-

SCHARDT, a citizen of the United States, re-.

siding at the city of' Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grates, of which the following is a specification, I

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in crates o1 roxes for, storing and shipping bottles and other fragile'receptacles.

In carrying out my invention, it is'my purpose to so construct the crate and arrange partitions therein that a certain number of .the bottles may be placed in the crate in inverted position or with the necks downward, while the remainder are stored as usual. By this arrangement I am enabled to obtain a smaller" and more compact crate, thereby saving space when storing and shipping the same.

A further object of my invention'is to provide a novel form of partition whereby the bottles will be closely and compactly stored without the liability of breakage or damage to loose storage and the consequent rattling or shaking of the bottles which results.

It is also my purpose to provide the compartments of my crate with means for holding the inverted bottles and at the-same time protecting the labels of such bottles against injury.

Another object is to provide a crate embodying the desired-features of simplicity, strength and durability of construction, and which may be manufactured and marketed at a relatively low cost. I

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature-in view, the invention arrangement of parts falling within and forming a part of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing :-'---Figure 1 is a top plan view of a box or crate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view, taken through a portionof the same. .Figs. 3 and 4 are views in elevation of the partition strips. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of one of the vertical posts. Fig. 6 is a similar view of-a ring or band for the inverted bottle.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the letter A designates the frame, indicated as an entirety, and arranged within the crate or box composed of the partition members 2 and 3, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively. The partition member 2 is provided with a straight lower edge, as shown at4, designed to rest against the bottom of the crate while the upper.edge of the strip or partition is provided with the vertical slots 5 formed 'in the projecting portions 6, said projections forming cut away portions 7, which are de signed to receive the posts 5 as hereinafter described. Each of the strips or partitions 3 has its lower edge slotted as at 9,'while the upper edge is formed with the -unslotted projecting portionslO between which are formed the cut away sections or open re cesses 11 which also receive the posts. In assembling the partitions or strips, the

latter are arranged at right angles relativeto each other as is shown in 'Fig. 1, that is,

with the slots 9 of the strips or projections 3 fitting in the slotted portions'5 of the partiwidened end portion 12 of each post being vertically slotted as is shown at 13 to fit in the cut away portions 7 and 11 of the strips or partitions, the slotted or bifurcated portions of the posts so fitting that the sliding or bifurcated portionsof the posts contact with the base of the casing.

It will be seen that when the posts are arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a large .pocket 14 is formed -by the flat sides of four of the posts, while the converging edges of the posts form narrow pockets as shown at 1-5. The large pockets 14 are designed to 'receive the bottles in the ordinary upright position, while the narrow pockets formed .by the adjacent edges ofthe posts are adapt-- ed to-receive the bottles in upturned or inverted position. Over the top of each of the narrow pockets 1'5, I place a metallic ring '16, having a top flange 17, and projecting lugs 18, preferably four in number, said lugs being designed to engage with the ad acent tops of the post and support the ring. The

ring will not only engage and thus firmly support the inverted bottle, but the flange will prevent the label of the bottle from being scratched, or otherwise injured.

The frame formingthe pockets orcompartments for thebox may be secured in position within the casing or crate by means of 113,118 or screws such as shown at 19,

which are driven part way in the frame forming the pockets and the head of the nail or screw impressed in the end of the box before the side is nailed on so that the nail or screw cannot be seen from the outside of the box while it will firmly hold the partition rigidly in position.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it

will be noted that I have provided an exceedingly simple, compact and convenient form ofcrate in which the bottles may be securely stored for shipment or other purposes, and held against breakage, and, furthermore, owing to the arrangement to which certain of the bottles may be inverted, but relativelylittle space is occupied, compared with the ordinary crates, and, furthermore, my crate, which may be of any in, the sides of said-posts forming pockets for receiving the bottles in upright position, while the edges of the posts form pockets for receiving bottles in inverted position.

3. The combination'with a box, of a series of tapered posts located spaced apart therein, the sides of said posts forming pockets for receiving the bottles in upright position,

while the edges of the posts form pockets for receiving bottles in inverted position,

and bottle supporting rings located at the top of the pockets for the inverted bottles.

4. The combination with a box, of a frame therein formed of intersecting partitions, a series of uprights carried by the partitions, intermediate the intersections thereof, whereby a series of pockets is formed by the sides of the uprights, and a second series by the edges of the uprights at the intersection of the graduations.

5. The combination with a box, of a plurality of partitions or strips arranged in parallelism, a plurality of other strips arranged in parallelism and connected at right angles to the firstmentioned strips, all of said strips having cut away portions for the reception of posts, tapered posts having their widened end portions engagingwith the cut away portions in the partition, whereby a plurality of pockets are formed by the sides of the posts to hold the bottles in upright position, and a plurality of pockets also formed by the edges of the posts in maintaining the bottles in inverted position.

'6. The combination with a box, of a plurality of partitions or strips arranged in parallelism, a plurality of other strips arranged inparallelism and connected at right angles to thefirst-mentioned strips, all of said strips having cut away-portions for the reception of posts, tapered posts having their widened end portions engaging with the cutaway portions in the partition,'

whereby a plurality of pockets are formed by the sides of the posts to hold the bottles in upright position, a plurality of pockets also formed by the edges of the posts in maintaining the bottles in inverted position, and rings for the pockets holding the bottles in inverted position.-

7. The combination with a box, of a plurality of partitions or strips arranged in also formed by the edges of the. posts in maintaining the bottles in inverted position, and rings designed to fit over the top for ing a flange at the top edge thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM- F. BUSOHARDT.

' Witnesses:

ANDREW J. ENGEL, J. B. SCHMEDER.

I the inverted bottles, each of said rings hav 

